Melvin Purvis G-MAN is a 1974 television movie that is a spin-off of the 1973 film Dillinger. Like Dillinger, this film was written by John Milius, but directing duties were handled by Dan Curtis (The Winds of War). Dale Robertson took over the role of Melvin Purvis from Ben Johnson, and continued to portray Purvis as a seasoned and almost regal law enforcement veteran, even though the real Purvis was only thirty years old the year this film was set. The film plays very fast and loose with the facts, starting in December of 1933, even though the real Machine Gun Kelly (Harris Yulin) had been sentenced to life imprisonment in October of 1933. Dale Robertson would return as Melvin Purvis the following year in The Kansas City Massacre.

Handguns

Star Model B

Like many films of the era, the Star Model B stands in for the M1911. Almost all the characters use one at one point or another. Melvin Purvis (Dale Robertson) is seen using a nickel-plated model, like in Dillinger.

Thatcher Covington and Sam Cowley (Steve Kanaly) open fire on the elder Longaker while Melvin Purvis (Dale Robertson) takes cover. Notice that Cowley's pistol has jammed. Unlike many films which would ignore such a thing, Cowley actually takes a moment to clear the jam a second later.

Kate fires on FBI agents on a roof.

Purvis with Cowley's pistol.

Buckwheat surrenders his pistol. This shot shows the lack of a grip safety.